Planning Commission Pushes Through Student Rental
Left, City Plan Commissioners Dave Cooper (left) and Jerry Moore were the two no votes for the student rental complex.
“I can’t vote to approve this because it’s not a final plan- and I can’t wrap my head around how the parking is not grossly underestimated.” -Commissioner Dave Cooper
By Brandi Makuski
After almost 4 hours of discussion, the Stevens Point Planning Commission Monday night approved a permit for the construction of a student rental property on Division Street.
The proposed rental property, which now moves ahead to the Common Council, will house 182 renters- mostly students- with parking for 86. The project is expected to cost around $7 million with an upfront payment of $500,000 in TIF incentives.
Despite heavy objection from landlords and other residents on a variety of issues who failed to see any upside of the issue, Commissioners also passed amendments to the city’s parking ordinance and landscaping standards which favored the student rental property, slated to be named Conservation Place.
“You put that many students into apartments facing the road, and just wait,” said area landlord Paul Wachowiak. “Before you know it, we’ll have blankets and towels hanging out there.”
“I don’t understand what you’re doing, for the life of me,” said Mildred Neville of Stevens Point. “This is about listening. It’s about involving the people in the planning for the city.”
Neville said she objected to the proposed rental units for a variety of reasons, including an incomplete application from project leaders at CCFS Group LLC, inadequate parking for renters and giving an unfair advantage against area landlords who rely on student renters for income.
“This TIF incentive was agreed to in closed session before there even was a CCFS Group LLC,” she added. State financial records indicate CCFS Group was listed an as LLC on November 20.
CCFS architect and developer Jack Fisher told the Commission he and his partners had many years of experience and would be working with the city government and university if final approval was granted by the full Council.